Grain And Flake Grinding Rollers With A Movable Hopper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grain grinding and squeezing devices require adjustment of the relative position of rollers to change the grinding gap, which is complex and not feasible without mechanical changes, limiting the ability to achieve varying grain sizes or degrees of squeezing without altering the rollers' position.

Innovation Solution

A device with a fixed grinding gap of varying width along its length, achieved by arranging tapered or conical rollers axially parallel or intersecting cylinder rollers, and a displaceable funnel-shaped material feed that adjusts the grinding position within the gap, allowing for different grain sizes without adjusting the rollers' relative position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the relative position of rollers is adjusted to change the grinding gap, then different grain sizes or degrees of squeezing can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and mechanical adjustment mechanisms are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to achieve varying grain sizesVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the rollers to change the grinding gap, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the rollers fixed and moving the material feed hopper horizontally along the grinding gap. This allows different sections of the grinding gap (with different gap widths) to be utilized without requiring complex roller adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds a horizontal displacement dimension to the material feed hopper along the grinding gap. This allows the system to access different gap widths by moving in the horizontal direction rather than vertically adjusting the roller positions, simplifying the mechanical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical adjustment mechanisms are added to change the grinding gap, then different grain sizes can be produced, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to change grain sizeVSAvoidease of adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention simplifies operation by inverting the control approach: instead of mechanically adjusting the rollers through complex mechanisms, the operator simply moves the material feed hopper horizontally to select different grinding sections, making the device easier to operate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The material feed hopper is designed to be displaceable along the grinding gap, providing dynamic adaptability. This allows the operator to easily change the grinding position and achieve different grain sizes by simply moving the hopper rather than adjusting fixed mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the grinding gap is made uniform, then the device structure is simplified, but the ability to produce varying grain sizes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of device structureVSAvoidability to produce different grain sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The grinding gap is designed with non-uniform local characteristics - different sections along the grinding gap have different gap widths. The material feed hopper can be positioned at different locations to utilize these local variations, allowing the production of different grain sizes without changing the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

By introducing horizontal displacement of the material feed hopper along the grinding gap, the invention enables access to different gap widths within the same grinding structure. This adds a dimensional degree of freedom that allows varying grain sizes while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the production of varying grain sizes or degrees of squeezing by displacing the material feed within the grinding gap, simplifying the device structure and eliminating the need for adjustable rollers, thus facilitating easy operation and adjustment of the grinding process.

Implementation Method 1

at least two rotatable rollers (1; 2) that can be driven in opposite directions... form a grinding or squeezing gap (8)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3450022B1Device for crushing or grinding of grain or flakes
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 WOLFGANG MOCK
  • EP3450022B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for crushing or grinding grains or flakes with at least two counter-rotating, rotatable rollers (1, 2), wherein the rollers (1, 2) are arranged in a housing (3) forming a grinding or crushing gap (8), thus creating a crushing or grinding mechanism, wherein a funnel-shaped feed hopper (6) is formed above the crushing or grinding mechanism, which transitions into a discharge contour (7). According to the invention, the rollers (1, 2) are fixed in their position relative to each other on the installation side such that the grinding or crushing gap (8) has sections of different gap widths along its length, and the funnel-shaped feed hopper (6) is movable along the length of the grinding or crushing gap (8) in order to selectively feed grinding material to areas of different gap widths.